Ice-machine



(No Model.) y S. W. JOHNSON.

1GB MAGHINE..

No. 288,06s.

N. PETERS. Phewmmvhef. warum im;

ATENr Enron.

snMoELWntrsoN JOHNSON, OE BELMONT, MnssnoHUsEfrrs.

loe-MACHINE;

VSPECIFICA|l".{lf|'forming.part OfkIetterS PatentrNO. 288,663, dated November 6, 1883.

` i Applicationled August 21, 1883. (No model.)

`To all whom, it ntosy concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL W. JoHNsoN, of Belmont, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in lee-Machines, of which the following is aspecication. l v

This invention relates to machines in which ice is produced in pans Vcontaining the fresh Water to bei'rozen bythe action of brine contained in a tank in which said pans are immersed, the brine being cooled below the freezing-point by `.coils of pipe passing through p it, the cold in the pipes being producedrby Y the expansion of a liquetiable' gas from which the heat has been expelled by compression in a' gas-compressor. l

IThe invention has for its obj ect, first, to produceice which shall be clear and free from air-bubbles; second, to produce an even cir,

culation of the brine in every part of the machine; third, to provide means by which seetions of the refrigeratingcoil can be removed for repairs without stopping the machine; fourth, to reduce the number of joints, and at the same time to provide means'for readily taking the apparatus apart for repairs, te. iifth, to provide an improved form of refrigerating coil. To these ends my invention consists in the improvements whichV l Awill now proceed to describe and claim. 1 o

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l represents a vertical section of a brine-tank provided with my improvements.' Fig. 2 represents a horizontal section on line '.1: a2, Fig. `1. Fig. 3 represents an enlarged section of a portion of one of the sides of the tank, showing my device for removing the coil without letting out the brine. Fig. 4 represents a combined valve and union-j oint used with my apparatus.- Fig. 5 represents.a vertical section, 'similar to that shown in Fig. 3, showing the end of refrigerating coil or pipe ready for removal from the tank. Fig. 6 represents a side elevation of the part shown in Fig.v 5, showing my method of attaching the dangesof b and l1. to the brinetank. Fig. 7 represents a crosssection of Abrine-tank, taken aty y, Fig. l.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in each of the figures.

In carrying out my invention I construct a tank, A, Fig. l, of wood or other suitable material. Said tank is lled with water containing salt, chloride of magnesium, or other substance capable of .arresting the freezing process. i

B B represent the refrigeratiug-coil into which the chemical refrigerant is expanded, said refrigerant producing intense cold and causing the pipes to absorb any heat that may exist in the brine surrounding them.

C represents an agitator which keeps the vbrine in motion.

D D represent partitions extending the Whole Width of the tank, and forming a serpentine channel', which causes the brine, when set in'A apbackward and forward motion ,by the agitator, to follow the upward serpentine course indicated by the arrows.

E E represent galvanized-iron pans of the usual form, which are filled with the water to be frozen. y The refrigerating-coils are located in a space at one end of the tank A, which space communicates both with the upper and with the lower end of the serpentine channel, as shown in Fig. 1. Holes are cut in the top of the brinetank for the reception ofthe ice-paus, and corresponding holes are cut in the partitions D for the same purpose. o

It will be seen that the partitions D cause the brine to act iirst on the lower portions of the pans and then at points successively higher until the upper portions of the pans are reached. The object of this arrangement is to make the ice clear and solid by causing the brine as it comes from the refrigeratingcoil to iirst act on the bottom of theV pans and to gradually ascend as it grows warmed, by which means the refrigerating pro cess is caused to commence at the bottom ofthe pan and proceed upwardly. This allows the air to escape as fast as the ice is formed, while by the common process the top of the pan is covered with ice before the middle is frozen, and the air, having no means ofescape, remains in the ice.

The agitator C consists of a shaft in which Vare inserted a number of separate paddles, ci a, extending the whole width of the tank. The agitator not only sets the brine in motion, 5 but thoroughly agitates every part of it, thereby preventing any deposit of salt and producing uniform results in every part ofthe machine, which is not the case with the pumps and propellers in common use, lwhich produce 1o currents in some parts of the` machine and have no effect on other parts.

f is a pulley to drive the agitator. f It will be seen that the agitator is so arranged that it draws the brine from the upper l end of the serpentine channel formed by the partitions D and forces it through the refri geratingcoils and into the lower end of j said channel. By this arrangement the brine is thoroughly circulated and cooled.

i 2o For the purpose of enabling the refrigeratf ing-coil to be removed from the tank without allowing the brine to escape, I have provided a flanged collar, b, which is made fast to the tank by the bolts c c, and covers an opening 2 5 in the tank through which said pipe passes.

cl represents a gland, which screws into the collar b and compresses the packing e e betweenthe pipe B and the collar b. When the coil is taken out, it is detached 3o from the valve at H. The pipe is then pushed back against thc gland d and the end secured by the cap g. The cap h is then bolted on, as shown in Fig. 5. The bolts cc'are then removed and the bolt`holes are plugged. The 3 5 coil is then ready for removal. It is replaced in the same manner, the only loss occurring bein-gk the brine in the cap 7L.

I have provided improved means for connecting the different parts ofthe refrigerating 40 apparatus. 7c is a valve having a thread on the outside of each end, instead of inside, as in other valves. Zis a recess cut in the end of the valve for the reception of a rubber gasket. mis a half-union screwed on the end of the pipe B, and having a boss, u, which fit-s closely into the recess l, so that the rubber cannot squeeze out on either side of it. o is a unionnut of the ordinary form connecting the halfunion m with the valve la. The advantage of this arrangement is that a joint is formed on each side ofthe valve which is perfectly gastight, and at the same time easily taken apart,

leaving the valve attached to either section of the pipes which may be desired. This is a 5 5 great convenience, and can only be obtained at present by placing a union on each side of the valve,with a nipple between, which doubles the numberl of joints and the chances of leakage. 6o I do not herein claim the lastdescribed improvement, but reserve the same for a future application.

The refrigeratingcoil B is 'formed by running a pipe horizontallyacross the tank, `then bending'it laterally at an enlarged curve, as

shown at P P, Fig. 2, returning it parallel and on a level with the first pipe to the side where it entered, then bending it diagonally downward, as shown at q, Fig. 1, so that it turns under the iirst pipe. 'Ihis is repeated 7o till the coil has the desired extent. The advantage of this form of coil'is that the pipes are kept at a uniform distance apart, the pipe. can be thoroughly drained, and the bends or curves are made as long as possible, therebylessening the liability of weakening the pipe by bending it.' It is well known that in bending a pipe the strain or weakening of the pipe is proportioned directly to the length of the curve, a short curve being much more in- 8o jurious than a longer one.

' I elaim- 4 l. The improved method of making ice in pans or receptacles, the same consisting in y conducting a refrigerating-liquid in a serpen- 8 5 tine or backward and forward course along thel external surfaces of said tanks, said liquid acting on the pans first at their lower portions and then at successively higher points, whereby the freezing action is caused to com- 9o mence at the bottoms of the pans, as set forth.

2. In an ice-machine,'the combination of a tank provided with partitions D, forming a serpentine channel adapted to direct a refrigerating -liquid in an ascending serpentine course, and having suitable apertures, an agitator adapted to circulate the liquid -in said channel, and a series of pans inserted in said apertures and surrounded by the refrigerat- `ing-liquid, the latter being caused bythe par- 10o tions D to act on the pans first at their lower portions, as set forth'.

3. In an ice-machine, the combination of the tank having the partitions D, forming a serpentine channel, the pans E, inserted in orificesin said partitions and surrounded by said channel, the refrigerating-coils located in a space at one end of the series of pans E, said space communicating with both ends of said serpentine channel, and the rotary agitator C, 11o arranged to draw the refrigeratingliquidfrom the upperend of said channel and force it through the refrigeratingcoils and into the lower end of said channel, as set forth.

4. Tlie'combination, with the tank, of the 115 agitator consisting of a shaft provided with independent paddles, as set'forth.

5. The tank provided with an opening, 0, and a collar, b, covering said opening, and an i internally-threaded orifice for the passage of 12o a refrigerating-pipe, and a threaded gland or follower adapted to work in said opening around the pipe and hold a packing in said collar, as set forth.

6. The combination, with the tank having v the opening o, and the collar b, covering said opening andadapted to receive a'refrigerat ing-pipe, of the cap h, adapted to be applied to the outside of the tank to cover they open ing o, and permit the removal of the pipe 13o Without loss of liquid from the tank, as set In testimonywhereofhave sgnedmynalme forth. tothis specification, in the presence of two 1o 7. The combination, with the tank, of the subscribing witnesses, this 15th day of Anrefrgerator-ppe B, having the enlarged end gust, 1883. Y 5 curves, l), the Sections between said curves SAMUEL VATSON JOHNSON.

being practically parallel, and the diagona Witnesses: Y downward curves Q, all substantially as Set C. F. BROWN, forth. A. L. WHITE. 

